Bienvenidos to the Maya land

Once upon a time there was a tremendous civilization in America: The Maya.

There are many ruins in this part of the world, the temples with their art tell a story that is to be found all over the world. At the top of a number of these temples you can see a reclining stone figure called the Chac Mool, considered to be the giver of life to the various cultures in this continent.

The first figures of Chac Mool were discovered in the late 1800's by French explorer Augustus LePlongeon. Chac Mool was the "messenger of the gods". The unique stone figures often functioned as an altar, and the receptacle he holds served to receive offerings from the Maya, to be carried to the god of the sun. He looks surprised almost as if someone woke him from a sound sleep or deep meditation.



Mayas on the coastal regions used large seagoing canoes. Christopher Columbus saw a Mayan canoe in 1502, during his fourth voyage to the Americas. He recorded that it was over 50 feet long and about eight feet wide with a cabin structure and a crew of about 12 men. The Mayas used canoes with sails for fishing, hunting, transport, war, and ritual ceremonies. We have evidence of this craft: drawings can be found in the most important pre-columbian Codex. The Maya canoes were important for maritime trade and fishing but also for supernatural journeys to the underworld. Classic-period artistic representations are associated with such journeys.



Watercraft are consistently portrayed as flat-bottomed with platform-like ends and sails. Special constructions used for seafaring included navigation aids on the Yucatan east coast as lighthouses

In 2004 we will hold a ceremony in remembrance of old times. On the summit of a Maya lighthouse--Star Hill--overlooking the Riviera Maya, the city's astronomer-priest will watch the heavens. We will wait for nature's sign, the Pleiades, to appear on the horizon, and then let the sacred ritual of the New Fire begin.

A noble Hobie Cat sailor -the one who arrives in final place in the regatta- will be guided to the sacrificial stone. At the moment the brilliant star cluster reaches its zenith the priest will jump into action. With one swift stroke of a razor-sharp obsidian knife he will slash open the honored victim's chest. The heart of the sailor will be carefully deposited in the bowl of the Chac Mool and all the Hobie Worlds Mexico 2004 participants will erupt in unbridled festivity.

Once again the forces of darkness will be defeated by the powers of light.

PD: You will be here, sailing and avoiding the last position in the race like the ancient Mayas who lived and crossed the seas of pristine clear waters... clear as Mexican tequila.

El gato de Hobie.
July 2003